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Fans removed from stands after scuffle

PRAIRIE RONDE — As the initial plans began to unravel, Opelousas High closed the textbook on tactics and chose simplicity instead.

“I told the team at halftime to go out and play straight up man-to-man the rest of the game,” said Opelousas boys’ basketball coach Lorenso Williams. "It was old-school, keep the other guy in your face and don’t let the man in front beat you."

If that was indeed the strategy, it provided a spark for a lethargic start as Opelousas defeated Ville Platte 61-54 in a boys’ semifinal during the annual Northwest High Holiday Basketball Tournament.

The game had its contentious moments throughout, as Williams and then the Opelousas High bench received separate technical fouls with 3:17 remaining in the second quarter.

Spontaneous altercations occurred in the stands among the overflow crowd, which spilled underneath the baskets on both ends of the court.

With 6:30 remaining in the game, play was halted for several minutes as event security and sheriff’s deputies ran into the stands behind the Ville Platte bench and pulled several females out of their seats after a scuffle erupted.

Several minutes later the game was stopped again briefly as another set of fans were removed from their places.

Ville Platte led at halftime (34-29), but Bulldogs’ boys’ basketball coach Tommy Jones said he noticed a difference in the way Opelousas played in the second half.

“The big thing was (Opelousas) took away our best ball handler, which caused our offense some problems. Give Coach Williams credit for making that adjustment,” said Jones.

“I thought we did what we set out to do in the first half, which was to make Opelousas set up in a half-court offense. I thought our half-court defense was effective in taking the half-court game away."

The Tigers cut the lead to one (36-35) during the first four minutes of the fourth period, but Ville Platte still led by three to start the fourth.

Quincy Leday’s second three-pointer gave Opelousas the lead (48-46) with 4:51 left in the game. Minutes later, Leday provided the Tigers’ permanent lead (55-52) when he went to the basket.

Opelousas also finished the game moderately successful at the free throw line. Opelousas sank five of the last eight attempts to preserve the win.